When we unexpectedly sold Wind Horse (before we were really ready to part with her) the plan was to take time off from cruising. After a lifetime spent messing around in boats, we considered a new avocation. And we tried, even to the point of Steve watering plants in the backyard (something that hasn’t happened in decades). However, the confluence of several factors opened up a different path forward than what we had planned.
The first was the lack of a prudent investment for our cruising kitty. With central banks around the world churning their printing presses, and interest rates essentially zero, we felt like we were anchored in a reef-strewn atoll with poor visibility, an unexpected gale pushing us onto a lee shore, with inadequate ground tackle. We do not like that sensation.
And then there was this nagging feeling that there was more yet to do with what we’d learned from the FPB 83, 64, and 97 projects. We started to dabble. Nothing serious mind you: a doodle here, a discussion there.
Slowly an image started to form.
In the past we have optimized our yachts for the two of us, with occasional guests. But if we were going to consider a new yacht for ourselves at this point, we also needed to allow for crew aboard, should this become desirable to keep prudently chasing our dreams.
We did not want a longer yacht. And we certainly did not aspire to a floating condo. We held numerous discussions with friends who have lived with long term crew, and others who are professional sailors. From them we quickly came to understand that a key ingredient to success would be a layout that allowed for comfortable separation between ourselves and long term guests or crew. Equally important were pleasant crew quarters, an essential ingredient in attracting (and keeping) the best crew.
In the last year we’ve been through literally hundreds of different layouts. As this process has evolved, we’ve become more and more enamored with the cruising potential in this new design.
An example of this is shown above in the great room,
where we have a high degree of flexibility in how we use the space, at anchor (above)
and at sea (shown above with helm and Ekornes stressless chairs in watch keeping position).
The owner’s suite occupies a quarter of the accomodations deck, and will have an alluring ambiance, which we are just beginning to explore.
Whether we are reading in our favorite chair with our feet up,
relaxing in bed enjoying the view,
or working in the adjacent office, the entrance to which is shown above, this area will become a haven when required.
Separate living spaces beyond sleeping cabins are equally important.
The “Matrix” deck (renders above and below) is an example of how this has worked out.
An encloseable all-weather space, this area will be ideal at sea or in port for enjoying the view and for separation. We expect this space to be a favorite with the grandkids when they are visiting. This is also the prime location for conning the boat. When on watch at sea we will have excellent sight lines, while comfortably seated with our feet up on the settee.
As the design spiral progressed, the pieces slipped into place. Space planning, layout relative to motion centers, structure, systems, cruising speed and range, factors affecting maintenance, storage, and vessel handling came together with a minimum of tradeoffs. It was as if a secret force was guiding the design evolution.
And we were liking the way the boat was developing aesthetically.
Edgy looking on the outside, with a serious message for those wondering what type of craft we might be.
Yet welcoming on the inside.
During this process we frequently paused–hove to if you will–to catch our breath, and evaluate. We asked ourselves, was this the right decision at this point in our lives?
Each time we discussed this, the emerging potential drew us forward.
Consider just a few of the capabilities of this new Dream Machine:
For example, an air conditioned workshop (shown above), with access both from on deck and through a gullwing door on the swimstep,
adjacent to an engine room with excellent access to both diesel engines and drive line components.
Or the double mufflered diesel engines (with a goal of 25/28dbA exhaust noise reduction), which will deliver our cruising speed of10.5 to 11 knots at a smooth 1650/1700 RPM. (Click here to read a more detailed post on the FPB speed and fuel range in the real world.)
Here is a cutaway view of the entire FPB 78 to put into perspective for you how these interior spaces fit together.
There is a solar array that will cover most of our energy requirements at anchor. Based on our previous experience with Wind Horse, this array should generate around 13 kilowatts of power in good conditions. Add to this a battery bank with a usable capacity of over 26 kilowatts, coupled with a highly efficient air conditioning system, and we should be able to run the boat with minimal genset time. And when we retire for the evening to our stateroom, if air conditioning is desired it will be available without starting the genset.
A combination of low-E laminated glass windows, large roof overhangs, and triple cell insulating window coverings (with remote control) will substantially reduce heat load when cruising in warmer climates. With additional insulating materials in the hull, deck, and soles between the decks, both heating and air conditioning will benefit.
A new approach to fresh air at anchor is also going to have a major impact on genset time and ambiance in general. We refer to both passive and forced air exchange. The underside of the roof overhang forward and the Matrix deck forward coaming (shown above) have fresh air inlets.
These areas are naturally pressurized by the roof and coaming shapes. They have water shedding grills which lead to Dorade-style inlets. At anchor, even in light breezes, they will provide lots of air flow. And if there is no wind? Then extraction fans will pull the fresh air from outside through the boat. The rendering above is a cutaway, through the center of the Dorade-style down pipes in the great room roof structure. Not shown are the closure plates, adjustable from the great room, which are used to adjust air flow or seal the pipes completely. The sleeping cabins each have a fan pushing fresh air in and a second pulling it out.
We have the space to carry a 10-to-11 foot RIB for local use, and a 15-foot twin engine dinghy for long range exploration.
There is a built in BBQ, a large deck locker in the forward starboard corner of the “porch”, and a comfortable nook into which one of us can curl up with a book. All of this furniture will be bolted into place so we can change easily change it if we come up with a different concept.
The FPB 78′s draft will allow us to cruise in extremely thin water (less than 5′/1.5m).
And we’re very excited about the cruising options that will open up as a result of the FPB 78′s ability to dry out in tidal estuaries and rivers.
Add to all of the above the previously mentioned owner’s suite annex that we are thinking about using as an office/workout area, or as a very nice crew cabin.
There is a wonderful galley, with a large inventory of built-in appliances. The list includes four double drawer fridge and freezer units, with a total capacity of appx 25 cubic ft/720 liters, induction cooktop, speed oven (combination microwave, convection and broiler), and a dishwasher. There are three stacks of drawers for storage and an array of countertop lockers, as well as a large pantry locker directly adjacent to the entry door.
and a great room with sufficient space to allow a pair of “Stressless” Ekornes chairs.
These Ekornes chairs can be used in a variety of layouts. Everything from watchkeeping to our movie nights will benefit.
While we do not watch a lot of television, the 65-inch/165cm 4K tv screen, on which can be displayed nav or radar data, will make it possible for us to maintain situational awareness on passage from any location in the great room.
On soundings we will con from the Matrix deck, but on passage we will often use the inside bridge.
We have excellent sight lines from this location, and space for a functional nav station without overwhelming the great room with electronics.
Here is another view of the great room before we move on.
The breakfast bar is going to see a lot of use, both as a second location to eat, and as a convenient spot from which to chat with the occupant of the galley.
The main electrical panel, along with genset, inverter, air conditioning, fridge/freezer, and great room lighting controls are located in the aft starboard corner of the great room. Signal LEDs and basic lighting of this panel is far enough away from the helms to not interfere with night vision. The stack of drawers are going to be very useful as a catchall, and the counter provides space to toss bags, cameras, or tablets, computers, etc. where they are out of sight when we come back from a trip to shore.
The wall space created by the stairwell to the lower deck will afford us space to hang photos or art.
The owner’s suite and guest staterooms are positioned near the pitch center of the boat.
The head of the owner’s bunk rests within 6′/2m of the “sweet spot” for motion upwind. Most of the great room and Matrix deck are at or aft of the pitch center where motion uphill is minimized. When you mix this layout with the already comfortable feel of the FPB breed, you can see why we expect the FPB 78 to give us the smoothest ride we’ve ever experienced.
From the forward watertight bulkhead to the collision bulkhead is a distance of 5.7 meters or 18 feet, almost all of which is available to owner and/or crew.
Given the substantial volume aft of the engine for ship’s gear (and toys), most of what needs to go forward can be stowed below the forepeak cabin sole, which in the cutaway above begins just below the top of the black paint line. The area left over after taking into account the crew layouts that follow is roughly equal to the anchor chain locker to watertight bulkhead space on the FPB 64.
There are many options for how to use this space, from leaving it open to adding it directly to the owner’s suite. Shown above is a concept being developed with one of our FPB 64 owners. A portion of the space goes into a walk-in closet for the owner’s use. Then there is a crew cabin with a head en suite, a settee, desk, and an upper bunk that hinges down when not required.
The rendering above is a conversion of the office layout to a twin berth cabin, with a head/shower combination and larger forepeak.
And above, the twin crew cabins currently in design review for FPB 78-2.
If this seems like a lot of interior volume for crew, we can assure you a happy crew means a happy owner.
Between the owner’s territory and guest suites aft is a hallway. Another location for photos and artwork. The washer and dryer are accessed from this hallway, situated conveniently close to staterooms.
On either end of the hall are systems lockers. To starboard are the inverters and high power DC circuit controls, fuses, and buss bars.
On the port side fuel, heat, and damage control pump manifolds reside, along with a variety of electronics black boxes, all of which are easy to check, operate, and maintain without being a contortionist..
The guest suites are attractive.
There is excellent storage space.
And an en suite vanity.
Each guest head has its own head, shower, and linen closet.
Our new FPB 78 Dream Machine has the usual extreme plating and framing in the hull. From the 24mm/1″ thick grounding plate, to the 16mm (5/8”) central turn of the bilge and engine room plate, not to mention the 12mm (1/2”) rest of the bottom,we will not be overly concerned with the odd bump here and there.
There is our usual substantial volume for fuel and water tanks forming what is in effect a double bottom. Total tankage equals 6800 US gallons/25,800 liters of which 70% represents fuel. Under normal circumstances we would never load more than 3500 US gallons of diesel. The extra capacity is for extra long trips, or protections against supply disruption.
It is time for dinner so we’ll end this very long post with the table set for the evening meal. We are off now to watch the sunset from the Matrix deck.
Here are the basic specifications for our new FPB 78 Dream Machine:
FPB 78 – Offshore Motor Vessel: Preliminary Specifications
- LOD 79.63’ (24.27m)
- LWL 77’ (23.48m)
- Beam Deck 20’ (6.1m)
- Extreme Beam (edge of rub rails) 20.8’ (6.35m)
- Draft-half load Canoe Body 4.5’ (1.4m)
- Draft-half load Prop Skeg 4.75’ (1.475m)
- Air Draft (top of masts-excluding antennas) 22.3’ (6.8m)
- Displacement Full Load (3600 US gallons liquids) 121,000 lbs / 55 tons
- Fuel Capacity 4850 US Gallons (18350 L)
- Fresh Water Capacity 1950 US Gallons (7380 L)
- Minimum Range of Positive Stability 140-degrees(half fuel in one tank, full fresh water tanks)
- Cruising Speed 10.75 knots
- Top Speed 12.35 knots
- Approximate Range 10 knots – 7100 NM 10.75 knots – 5550 NM (Note: speeds/ranges are smooth water/clean bottom)
How does the FPB 78 compare to Wind Horse, the FPB 64, and the 97? The answer is that there is no way to directly compare the designs as they are each optimized towards different goals. But there are definite physical differences which are quantifiable.
Taking all this into consideration, it should come as no surprise that FPB 78-1 is under construction. A second FPB 78 is under contract for a European client and will begin its build cycle first of the year.
It will be 2015 before we are afloat again. Meanwhile–dreamtime.
If you’d like to join us on this journey, contact Todd Rickard: ToddR@setsail.com.
Click here to read more FPB 78 updates.
Note: We have had literally hundreds of comments and dialogues surrounding our posts about the evolution of the FPB 78 design. We have compiled them all into one place for organization and ease of reading. Click here to see the dialogue.